Reading stand



March 15, 1949. R. KETCHEM 2,464,690

READING STAND Fil ed Sept. 26, 1945 I Patented Mar. 15,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE READING STAND Roy Ketchem Newark, N. .1.

Application September 2.6, 1945, Serial No. 618,724

2 Claims. l

L This invention relates to a stand for support of books, magazines and the like, in an open reading position and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is a special object of the invention to provide a reading stand or rack particularly adapted for invalid use in connection with a bed or chair, as a means for supporting books, magazines, newspapers and the like within convenient range of the vision of the patient, and in which the rack per se is adjustably mounted so as to present a periodical at various positions and thus permit use of the device by patients who must assume unnatural positions in a bed, chair or the like.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a periodical support, which is adjustable and in which a book and magazine may be simultaneously supported, the rest being readily movable to bring either of the periodicals into the line of vision of the patient.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a stand or rest constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of the period i-cal rest, partly in section.

There is illustrated in Figure 1, a stand I!) consisting of any suitable base II having a medially disposed socket I2 for reception of a ball l3 of a standard I4. The socket I2 and ball I3 constitute a universal joint so that the standard l4 may be moved to a desired angular position with respect the base II. Preferably the socket [2 will include a set screw I5 for securing the standard in an adjusted position.

The standard I4 is of a length so as to support a table I6 at a proper level with respect to a bed or the like. Upon the standard I4 a T-fixture I1 is adjustably mounted by the provision of a thumb or set screw it. By loosening the screw I8 it will be apparent that the fixture may be moved longitudinally of the standard and then secured by tightening the screw. The T-fixture includes a right angular socket I9 within which a ball 26 of a support arm 2! is mounted for universal movement of the latter. The socket is provided with a thumb screw 22 for securing the arm against movement as will be required, after adjustment.

The opposite end of the arm H is likewise provided with a ball element 23 complemental to a socket 24 of a T-fitting 25, the latter having fixed 2 therein a short standard 26 for support of the periodical rest now to be described. The socket includes a set screw 22' for maintaining an ad: justment.

The periodical rest consists of a planiform rectangular base 21 of any suitable dimensions, upon the under face of which there is secured an open ended socket 28 of a diameter to freely receive the upper end of the standard 26. The base 21 is thus freely rotatable about the standard 26 for a purpose as will presently appear.

Inwardly of respective ends of the base 21 an opening 29 is formed positioned in the medial longitudinal axis thereof, and mounted in each r of the openings there is a clamp device 30. The

clamp device consists of a pair of jaws 3| of a length so as to project above the top plane of the base 21, the jaws being in crossed relation pivoted at 3| and terminating in respective hand grips 32 below the base. A leaf spring 33 is connected to one of the hand levers at one end while the other end of the spring is in contacting, yet slidable relation with the other hand lever, the spring acting to close the jaws 3|.

Upon the longitudinal edges of the base 21, adjacent respective ends, a spring finger 34 is secured, being of substantial lengths and inwardly bowed so as to overlie the medial longitudinal axis of the base 21. The fingers terminate in ball elements 35 avoiding demarkation of a book or the like when supported by the rest.

In use, a support board 36 is clamped between the jaws of respective clamps 36 affording support of a book 31 upon one side there, while a magazine 38 may b supported upon the other side of the board, the spring fingers 34 bearing upon pages of the book and magazine and supporting the periodicals against the board 36. The pages of the periodicals may be readily turned by releasing the required finger and raising the opposite finger for disposition of the page therebeneath.

Quite often a patient will tire of reading a book and might desire a diversion by reading the magazine. In such case, it is only necessary to loosen the set screw 39 which will permit free rotation of the rest 21 to bring the magazine into line of vision of the patient.

By provision of the universal or ball and socket joints as described and shown, it will be apparent that the rest 21 may be adjusted to varying requirements of a patient.

It will be understood that instead of the board 36, the back covers of the book 31 may be clamped between the clamp devices and thus afford support for the magazine.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the device, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for books and the like comprising a support means, a rectangular planiform base rotatably mounted on said support means, spring fingers mounted on respective longitudinal edges of the base, bowed inwardly to overlie the medial longitudinal axis of the base, and said base further having a pair of spaced spring clamping jaws mounted thereon and projecting thereabove, said spring clamping jaws having hand levers for opening said jaws for reception of a pair of books arranged in back to back relation.

2. A support for books and the like comprising a support means, a rectangular planiform base horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted on said support means, spring fingers mounted on respective longitudinal edges of the base, bowed inwardly to overlie the base a substantial distance, said base further having an opening adjacent respective ends positioned in the longitudinal. axis of the base, a spring clamping means 5 back relation.

ROY KETCHEM.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are, of, record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 161,026 Grummon Mar. 23, 1875 15 324,397 McClure Aug. 18, 1885 393,562 Howard Nov, 27, 1888 470,668- Fisher Mar. 15,, 1892 747,188 Klee Dec. 15, 1903 1,020,875 Baillod Mar. 19, 1912 20 1,494,212 Bromley May 13, 1924 1,559,431 Hogsett Qct. 27; 19.25 1,575,534 Bri'nson Man, 2,. 1926- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,283 Great Britain Jan; 31,1924 319,343 France a-,J.u1yv19, 1902 mounted in respective openings in the base and projecting thereabove and hand levers integral with respective jaws for opening said jaws for reception of a pair of books arranged in back to 

